The History of 24/7 Worship and Prayer

One of my greatest passions is to be part of what God is doing on this side of eternity. I am a worshiper and an intercessor, serving in a prayer room weekly. Our prayer room may have only a few open hours five days each week, but across the world, prayer and worship continue around the clock, 24 hours a day and seven days a week in some locations.

The heart and mission of houses of prayer, prayer rooms and Burn 24/7 furnaces is not new. Worship and prayer gatherings ranging from occasional gatherings to full 24/7 meeting places are not just a thing of our current time. At various times and seasons, this has been a reality far before our time.

Continue reading to find out about the history of 24/7 worship and prayer, and how it is also happening in the times in which we now live.

24/7 Prayer and Worship in the Old Testament

King David established a tabernacle in Jerusalem at around 1000 BC, setting the standard for night and day worship before the Lord. Out of a desire for a place for the Lord, David brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, had it placed in a tent. Inspired by the worship of Heaven, he set 288 singers along with 4,000 musicians before the Lord to give thanks and praise to the Lord as their full-time occupation day and night (1 Chronicles 23:5; 25:7).

This 24/7 worship continued at various times in Israel’s pre-Messianic history and was always followed by a time of revival, breakthrough, and victory for Israel.

The Moravians of the 18th Century

In 1727, Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians of Herrnhut Germany began a movement of unceasing prayer. For 100 years, 1-2 people prayed every hour increasing to even more, as they desired together that “the fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously” and not go out (Leviticus 6:13).

This 24/7 prayer movement sparked a missions movement that spanned the entire globe. Some, so committed in the cause of the Gospel, sold themselves as slaves in order to reach people for Christ. By 1776, some 226 missionaries had gone out from Herrnhut. John Wesley himself was one of those who came to salvation through the Moravian missionaries.

Modern Times

In Seoul, South Korea, Pastor David Yonggi Cho established “Prayer Mountain” where night and day prayer brought more than a million visitors each year. His commitment to unceasing prayer, faith and discipleship contributed greatly to his church becoming the largest congregation across the globe, numbering over 780,000.

In the United States, the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri began a 24/7 worship and prayer meeting starting on September 19, 1999. Unceasing prayer and worship continue to this day. Since this time, worship and prayer have gone up to the Lord without ceasing.

Today ministries and houses of prayer have increased across the globe as God stirs the hearts of believers with the vision for 24/7 worship and prayer. Learn more about the multi-faceted history of 24/7 prayer.